Apparatus for manufacturing knitted fabrics



E. HILLER 2,261,805

Filed March 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l qiwgag g Nov. 4, 1941.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING KNITTED FABRICS a: I w I I; m uqq -w-iwqq-i qq E E ,m

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' APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING KNITTED FABRICS E. HILLER AFPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING KNITTED FABRICS Nov. 4, 1941.

s Sheets-Sheet 5 IIVIII llllllhllllllll Filed March 25, 1959 UITED STTE ice APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING KNITTED FABRICS Edward Hiller, West New York, N. J assignor of one-half to Maurice Pirrone, West New York, N. J.

Application March 23, 1939, Serial No. 263,634

Claims. (01-. 66-42) This invention relates to improvements in the Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line l'l manufacture of knitted fabrics and is particuof Fig. 4; larly directed to an improved method of and Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a design of fabric apparatus for knitting fabrics of manifold dedifferent from that shown in Fig. 1 and capable signs. 5 of production by my apparatus;

More specifically the invention is directed to Fig. 9 is an elevational View similar to Fig. 4 novel cam mechanism for circular knitting mabut illustrating additional cams of my improved chines resulting in additional needle action apparatus; whereby manifold designs of fabric may be pro- Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line l!ll0 of duced. 10 Fig. 9; I

My invention contemplates the use of a plu- Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a modified form rality of sets of needles, the butts of the needles of cam mechanism; 7 I of each set differing in length from the butts of Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line |2-'-l2 of the needles of the other sets, and novel cam Fig. 9; mechanism for actuating the needles. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 13-43 of In the preferred form of my invention and Fig. 9; and the form herein illustrated and described, I em- Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing at p oy three Se s of needles, the needle butts of least one section of each of the groups of sec each set being of a different length from the butts ti shown i Figs 4 d 9, of the needles of the other sets. By my improved 2 In carrying t my ti 1 provide th 9 mechanism I am enalflled to Control Selecsets of needles, designated 2, 4 and 6, the butts tively each set of needles independently or of the needles of each set differing in length lectlvely as deslredfrom the butts of the needles of the other sets.

In ordinary knitting machines the design of h 2 the fabric produced is limited to the arrange- 2 T 8 Set deslgnated has short butts the Set ment of the sets of needles thread stations etc. designated 4 long butts? and the Set designated while in my improved device not only can the 6 x longbutts The .dnven m usual number of variations in design of fabric clrcular path around th machine m the usual be produced but I am able to increase the nummanner by driven gears meshing with the ber of variations almost to any limit. I accom- (311131 rack u the variations particulafly through t For they selective independent control of the lective independent control of the sets of needles, ee es I p ov e a ov C mechanism, Shown and also by the rearrangement and interchange in the drawings. f m n h e f ed stations. n r- Certain of the cams are mounted in removable change of thread feed stations and the intersections on the Stationary bed "1 of the an e Of needle arrangement, which (1116 130 the chine, while others are mounted directly on the increase of sets of needles of difi'erent size butts machine bed adjacent v Sections For results in many times the Variation possible with n n of description, however, I Shall fer machilles as at preent constructed to the cams in the sections, which description My lmploved deface We11atw of the many it is to be understood includes all of the cams variations of fabric design are illustrated in the in or adjacent the Section A circular knitting accompanymg drawmgs' machine having twelve sections is shown dia- In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of one type or design grammatlcauy m plan m The cams are removably secured in place by means of screws 22 5 g g ggi sg ggggl gg g the three or otherwise to facilitate the interchange of types of needles employed; their positions, as des1red. Each section has its Fig. 3is a diagrammatic plan view of the cirpartltfular cam mechamsm W111Ch m y 01 may m tt machine; not differ from the cams of the adJacent section. Fig. 4 is an elevational view of certain of the It s to be understood that I may emp oy any mechanism of my improved apparatus; number of my improved cams in any desired Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 re atio 01 I ay so p y S a d Cams of Fig. 4; therewith, depending upon the design of fabric Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line G--6 desired. In other words, 'I may employ only my of Fi 4; improved cams or I may employ certain or all of my improved cams in coordination with standard cams.

The cams are so constructed or so arranged that the needles may be selectively and collectively raised for knitting. Where only certain of the needles are to knit, the others, if raised by the raising cam, may be brought down below the knitting point before the same reach the knitting point whereby to render the same inactive so far as knitting is concerned and to provide a floating of the yarn. Other cams are provided whereby the needles which are not to knit are not raised but are passed along at a level below the knitting point, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

For clarity of description of the cams and the operation of the needles thereby, it will be assumed that the three cam sections illustrated in Fig. 4 and also the three sections of Fig. 9 are adjacent sections. The needles are travelin in a circular path from right to left of Figs. 4 and 9.

In the three cam sections illustrated in Fig. 4 two needles are knitting while the third needle passes below the knitting point to provide a floating of the yarn.

The cam casings or sections here illustrated are designated from right to left generally as |2, l4 and IS. The section |2 which embodies one of my improved cams includes a raising cam l8, the depth of which is such as to engage the butts of all needles whereby to raise all of the needles. Adjacent the raising cam I8 is a combination guard and flag cam which is stepped to provide a flag cam surface 22 whereby to permit of passing of certain needles, while drawing or retracting others of the needles downwardly to below the knitting station to provide a floating of the yarn.

As will be seen from Fig. 7, the needles after being raised by cam |8 continue their travel to the left whereby the short butt needles 2 and the long butt needles 4, the butts of which do not extend far enough laterally to engage the flag cam 22, are permitted to pass at this point and proceed to the knitting station, while the extra long butt needles 6, having butts of sufficient length to engage the cam surface 22 of cam 20, are drawn downwardly thereby, before reaching the knitting point to provide a floating of the yarn.

The extra long butt needles 6 continue in their lower path and are joined by the short butt needles 2 and the long butt needles 4 which by engagement with a draw-down cam 24 are brought to the level of the other needles.

In the cam section 2 just described, therefore, the long butt needles 4 and the short butt needles 2 are the only needles knitting as they pass the knitting station and are retracted by the draw-down cam 24. The extra long butt needles 6, as previously explained, pass below the knitting point to provide a floating of the yarn in the fabric.

As all the needles reach the end of each cam section, they engage a guard cam 26, the function of which is to initiate upward movement of the needle to the next cam section.

As the needles progress in their travel to the next cam section, designated l4, which section also includes certain of my improved cams, they are all engaged by raising cam 28. This cam adjacent thetop thereof is provided with a setback cam surface which engages the butts of the extra long butt needles 6 to raise the same higher than the needles 2 and 4 which are not engaged by this cam surface, as will be appreciated. An arcuate cutout 33 is provided in cam 32 lying above the cam surface 30 to permit of the extra long needle butts passing over the cam surface 30 and over cam 34.

After passing the cam 28 the long butt needles 4 engage lowering cam 34 whereby to retract the same to below, and before reaching, the knitting point. This cam 34 is set back whereby the short butt needles 2 will not be engaged thereby and hence will be permitted to pass in the plane corresponding to the height of the cam 28 by which they were last engaged and accordingly will pass to the knitting point, together with the extra long butt needles 6 which are not retracted but continue'in engagement with the cam plate 32 to the knitting station. The extra long butt needles 6 and the short butt needles 2 which accordingly perform the knitting operation in this section continue in the path of travel until they engage the draw-down cam 36 whereby to bring the same to the lowermost position for engagement with the next guard cam 26.

The next or adjacent cam of cam section l6 raises two sets of needles and passes the other.

The cam 40 of this section is a raising cam. This cam 40, however, is stepped to provide two cam surfaces 4| and 43. The upper cam surface 4| is set back whereby to engage and raise only the long and extra long butt needles 4 and 6, respectively, while the short butt needles 2 are permitted to pass along the lower cam surface 43.

As the long and extra long butt needles 4 and 6, respectively, leave the upper cam surface 4| of the cam 40 they continue in their path of travel to the knitting station. These needles 4 and 6 are engaged by the cam plate 42 which initially starts them downwardly, this downward movement continuing upon their engagement with the draw-down cam 46 to bring the needles to their lowermost position.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that as illustrated in Fig. 5, the long and extra long butt needles 4 and 6 do the knitting while the short butt needles 2 are passed to provide a floating of the yarn; that as illustrated in Fig. 6 the short and extra long butt needles 2 and 6, respectively, do the knitting while the long butt needles 4 are passed to provide a floating of the yarn; that as illustrated in Fig. 7 the short and long butt needles 2 and 4 do the knitting, while the extra long butt needles 6 pass to provide a floating of the yarn.

The combination of cams shown in Fig. 4 may be employed in making the fabric of Fig. 1 as readily will be appreciated.

Referring now to the cams illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13: The cam sections 90, 92 and 94 include cams whereby one needle is employed for knitting while the othertwo needles are passed by the knitting station whereby to provide a floating of the yarn. The section includes a raising cam 96 which is stepped back to provide two cam surfaces 98 and I00. The cam surface I 00, as will be seen from Fig. 13, engages the long butt needles 4 and the extra long butt needles 6 to raise the same while the short'butt needles 2 pass along in the plane of the cam surface 98 whereby to pass below the knitting station. In this section I also provide a combination guard and flag cam I02 which is stepped back to provide cam surface I04 adapted to engage the extra long butt needles 6 whereby to retract the same before reaching the knitting station while the long butt needles 4-are permitted to pass to the knitting station to knit the yarn.

It will be appreciated that in the section 90 the only needles which do the knitting are the long butt needles 4, while the short butt needles 2 pass along in their lowermost path and the extra long butt needles 6 are retracted before reaching the knitting station whereby to provide a floating of the yarn. The long butt needles 4 in their path of travel engage a draw-down cam I06 which returns these needles to the lowermost position and into alignment with the extra long butt needles 6 and the short butt needles 2. Each of the sections illustrated in Fig, 9 is provided with guard cams 26 similar to the guard cams of the sections of Fig. 4.

With respect to the section 92 of Fig. 9: It will be seen that raising cam I 08 raises all of the needles. a combination guard and flag cam III] which has a setback cam surface H2 adapted to engage the long butt needles 4 and the extra long butt needles 6 whereby to retract the same before reaching the knitting station, while the short butt needles 2 continue in their upper path of travel to the knitting station for knitting the yarn.

The long butt needles 4 and the extra long butt needles 6, it will be appreciated, are drawn down by the flag cam H2 to their lowermost position which is below the knitting point and continue in their path at this plane past the knitting station whereby to provide a floating of the yarn. This section is also provided with a draw-down cam H4 which engages the short butt needles 2 to draw the same down to their lowermost position and into alignment with the needles 4 and 6.

The next section includes a raising cam H6 which is stepped to provide two cam surfaces H8 and I26. The cam surface I26, as will be seen from the drawing, engages the butts of the extra long butt needles 6 to raise the same for knitting while the short butt needles 2 and the long butt needles 4 travel along in the plane of the cam surface H8 below the knitting station whereby to provide a floating of the yarn. This section is also provided with a guard cam I22. This section has the usual draw-down cam I24 for engaging the butts of the long butt needles 6 to retract the same to their lowermost position and into alignment with the short butt needles 2 and long butt needles 4.

Fig. 11 shows a modification of cam mechanism for raising the needles of one set for knitting while passing the needles of the other sets to provide a floating of the yarn. In this modified structure the extra long butt needles 6 are raised by a cam 39' similar to the cam 30 of Fig.

4 and the long butt needles 4 and the short butt needles 2 are engaged by cam 34' similar to cam 34 of Fig. 4, except that cam 34 is made thicker whereby to engage the butts of the short butt needles in addition to the butts of the long butt needles to retract the same before reaching the knitting station.

The combination of the cams illustrated in Fig. 9 may be employed in making the fabric of Fig. 8, as will be readily appreciated.

It will be understood that the cams of Fig. 4 and the cams of Fig. 9, if combined, will produce a fabric different than the fabric of either F l .or 8. It will be appreciated that by interchanging the cams of any of these sections dif- This section is also provided with ferent' fabrics will be produced; also that by substituting standard cams for some 'of the cams of Figs. 4 and 9 still different fabrics will be produced. It will alsobe understood that the design of fabric may be varied by varying the arrangements of the cams and the relative positions of the same with respect to each other.

The needles employed in my improved device are of the type known as beard needles, that is, needles, having spring beards 41, although my improved cam mechanism may be employed equally well with latch needles.

The knitting action of the beard needle is similar to that of the usual beard needle. The thread is sunk between the needles by a sinker 50 and as the needle is lowered during the knitting operation, as above described, the thread is caught under the beard. The usual presser 52 is also employed to close the beard of the needle in the casting off operation. The operating cams and mechanism for the sinkers and pressers being the usual mechanism and not forming any part of my invention are not shown."

In making the fabric of Figs, 1 and 8, the loops 60 are formed when the thread is cast off after the needle has been lowered to catch the thread of the preceding course. The floats 62 are formed when the needles are permitted to pass below the knitting station as hereinabove disclosed. Any desired needle or needles may be held for one or more courses to provide an elongated loop extending for one or more courses such as 64, for example.

It will be seen from Fig. 1, where three of the courses are designated d, e and ,1, respectively, that in each course every third needle is not raised high enough to get the yarn, thus resulting in floats such as 63 across certain wales. Of the other two needles one knits regular loops such as 66, 16, 18, etc., while the remaining needle is not raised high enough in the succeeding course to cast off its loop or get the yarn, thusresulting in the formation of elongated loops64, B8, 12, 80, etc.

Inthe fabric shown in Fig. 8 the courses are alternately floats and loops and all loops. In those courses comprised of floats and loops the floats extend across two wales of the adjacent course.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description of my invention, I am enabled by my improved cam mechanism to select the needles of any one set for knitting or for passing the knitting station to produce a floating of the yarn. I can also guide and direct any set of needles or two sets of needles or all three sets of needles to knit the yarn or I may pass any set or sets of needles to float the yarn, as desired. It will be appreciated also that by this selective and collective control over the needles I can produce loopsor floats in any desired location or relative position in the fabric whereby to produce fabrics of manifold designs.

I have illustrated but two designs of fabric produced by my invention, but it will be obvious from the foregoing description that manifold designs may be produced. By way of illustration, for example, instead of the design of Fig. 8 wherein the alternate courses are composed of loops and floats and loops, I may produce a design in which a single course composed of loops is alternated with a plurality of courses composed of floats and loops, and vice versa; also I may produce a design wherein a plurality of courses composed of loops are alternated with a plurality of courses composed of floats and loops; the floats could span single loops, or any number of loops; the floats could alternately span single loops, or any number of loops; the sets of needles may be rearranged; the cams may be interchanged; the thread stations may be changed; or difierent yarns may be employed; and many other variations made, too numerous to describe.

. The cam sections I2, l4, I6, 90, 92 and 94, forclarity of description, were assumed to be adjacent each other. In Fig. 3, however, it will be noted that sections l2, I4 and I6 are equidistantly spaced around the machine, standard cam sections [5 being shown intermediate the sections [2, l4 and [6.

It will be appreciated that I am enabled by my invention to produce any desired design without the removal of beard closers, needles, the breaking of needle beards, the removal of beard closing cams, or by any of the usual methods. It will also be appreciated that I may produce manifold designs during the operation of all needles due to my ability to control the needles independently and collectively.

It is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made in the mechanism herein disclosed and in the arrangement of the parts or steps of my method without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a plurality of sets of needles, adapted to revolve in a circular path, the butts of the needles of each set differing in length from the needle butts of the other sets, a plurality of stationary cams in the path of the needle butts, one set of cams selectively and successively actuating one of said needle sets for knitting while passing the other sets to provide a float and other of said cams selectively and successively actuating a plurality of said sets for knitting while passing another set for floating.

2. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of sets of revolving needles, stationary cams for selectively actuating said needles, one of said cams raising all of said needles to a certain height, a setback on said cam for raising certain of said needles to a greater height while permitting the others to remain at the first mentioned height, a second cam adjacent the first mentioned cam for engaging certain of the lowest of said needles to return the same to their lowermost position while permitting the others of said lowest needles to pass by said last mentioned cam.

3. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a set of short butt needles, a set of lon butt needles, a set of extra long butt needles, said sets of needles traveling in a circular path, stationary cams for effecting reciprocating motion of said needles, one of said cams raising all of said needles, a step on said cam for raising extra long butt needles higher than the other needles while the other needles remain in the plane to which they were raised, an adjacent cam for retracting the long butt needles while permitting the short butt needles to pass said cam and a draw-down cam for retracting the short and extra long butt needles to the level of the long butt needles.

4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of three sets of needles adapted to be moved circumferentially of the machine, stationary cams for effecting reciprocatory movement of certain of said sets of needles, one of said cams raising the long and extra long butt needles while permitting the short butt needles to float, a second cam for retracting the extra long butt needles before the same reach the knitting station, and a draw-down cam for retracting said long butt needles to bring the same to the level of the extra long and the short butt needles.

5. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a set of short butt needles, a set of long butt needles, a set of extra long butt needles, said sets of needles traveling in a circular path, stationary cams for effecting reciprocating motion of said needles, one of said cams raising all of said needles, means on said camfor raising the extra long butt needles higher than the other needles while the other needles remain in the plane to which they were raised, an adjacent cam for retracting the long butt and short butt needles, while permitting the extra long butt needles to pass said cam, and a draw down cam for retracting the extra long butt needles to the level of the long and short butt needles.

EDWARD HILLER. 

